Wedding Photographer

When I think about this summer and all of the incredibly fun, genuine, thoughtful couples I get to photograph I get so excited. I met Austin and Jolene in Chico on a chilly Sunday morning for their engagement photos and they were so sweet and easy to photograph and be around. Their love is evident and I cannot wait for their summer wedding in the mountains!

I’m not a mom, one day I will be. One day I will feel all of the amazing things my friends and family have felt holding their own in their arms. And one day, I will also feel the guilt and shame that some of my friends feel being a mom. And one day, I pray to look back at these words and deny the lies that have been spoken over every mom that ever walked.

This week has been a week of trial for a lot of my mamma friends. Being a mom is the most important job but also the most overlooked job of them all (in my opinion). Rather than cheering our friends on for being working mothers, they are told they are missing out on so much-even though their kids are learning social skills at daycare or having precious time with a family or loved one. I’ve seen countless blog posts about breastfeeding and how one is better than the other instead of allowing the mother to choose what is best for her body.

Why do we think our way is constantly the right way? Why can’t we cheer each other on for being wildly different and that our kids are something to behold, something to invest in instead of bashing each other over the internet and teaching our kids to do the same? The mothers I know are all badasses, they are all different, they parent different, and they are doing a damn good job-every last one of them. Some of them even chose not to breastfeed. Some of them work from home, some send their kids to daycare, and some of them are stay at home moms. All wildly different, wildly brave, and the fiercest women I know. They love their kids with the fiercest love that I can barely describe.

So, if you’re a mom and you’re down on yourself or you’ve been there, I don’t know how you feel. I don’t know how you feel because I am not a mom yet. But I want you to know I admire you. I have faith in you. You’re doing the best you can and you’ve got this. I can’t wait to be in your midst.

My sweet friend Alli recently had her second baby, Hazel (and sweet Becca Rose). I adore this family, their hearts, and all they love and stand for. Alli is one of those friendships I pray to hang onto forevermore.

I don't know very many people anymore who marry their high school sweethearts, but with these two it makes so much sense. They got seated next to each other in a class and Marissa couldn't stop laughing at Jonah's jokes. The rest is history and I want to be friends with them forever. If you know these two, you know how contagious their personalities are and you'll be laughing until the end of time. Sam and I can hardly wait to shoot their wedding this summer!

When couples are as adventurous as Nick and Kate, you photograph them in the mountains. These two were up for anything and were totally fine with the wind and all the elements that came with their engagement shoot. I can't wait to shoot their wedding this summer!

Kate once wrote me a note when I was a troubled 7th grader-she made an impression on me back then and it has stuck with me ever since. Matt, Kate and Anders are just plain as real as you get-they don't hide anything from anyone and don't apologize for who they are. I think in the age we live in, we have lost the ability to be completely ourselves and not feel bad about it. Matt has made a mark on my husband (in the best way-no, he didn't beat him) in a way that I will never be able to repay him for. I'm thankful for the friends we have in Matt and Kate-we don't spend nearly enough time together but I know they have our backs. This family is gold.

You know how you meet those people who just glow? That's Emily and Justin. From the moment we started talking, it was so evident how in love they were/are. The way they talk to each other, the way he makes her laugh, and the way they look at one another-you can't walk into a room and not know they are crazy in love. Not to mention, they are two of the sweetest and easiest people to be around. I loved this shoot and I love this couple!

I've known Amanda for 5 years now-she just keeps getting better. When we met, we worked at a coffee shop together and she and Parker didn't have kids yet. When she had her first baby (Ezra) I'm pretty sure she worked right up to her due date and never complained about any of it. Once she had Ezra, she took him everywhere-of all the years I have known Amanda, I've loved how genuine, honest, and hard-working she is. She cares about those she loves so much and I learn about motherhood just from watching her with her boys. Every time I get to photograph this family, I'm thankful.